Architect HKS agrees relocation in downtown Dallas

A deal has been agreed that will see the architecture powerhouse HKS Inc relocate to newly revamped offices in downtown Dallas, Texas.

HKS, one of the top five architect firms in the world, will switch its staff to offices in a building now called the One Dallas Center but until recently known as the Patriot Tower. Terms agreed with the building’s owner Todd Interests will see the firm take up a total of 104,000 sq ft of space across seven floors at the site.

The offices will serve as HKS’ international corporate headquarters and its commitment to Dallas is being widely taken as positive news for the city and particularly for its market for high quality refurbished office space.

HKS’ chairman and chief executive Ralph Hawkins said in a statement that the company’s bosses spent as long as four years assessing potential relocation destinations around downtown Dallas and the surrounding county. Despite incentives from other potential locations it was decided that Dallas was the right place for HKS Inc to be headquartered, Hawkins explained.

“We decided to continue to support the city of Dallas, as we have for the past 73 years,” he said.

Plans now in place have HKS scheduled to move into the central Dallas offices in May 2013 after a fit out process has been completed. The building and the offices are being revamped in part with high levels of energy efficiency and sustainability in mind.

“Our goal is to create a meaningful and inspiring place that reflects our commitment to our people, our communities, sustainable design and our Texas heritage,” said Hawkins.

HKS has close to a thousand employees and 30 office bases around the world. It has been behind hundreds of development efforts globally, including those that saw the Dallas Cowboys American football stadium created and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center built back in 1996.